I have little doubt that all this man owns could and would be taken away if he took any stance against the regime. He would either end up dead or in a hole.

There's nothing in an honest answer to the question he was asked by which could serve Beijing either from a political or a business perspective.

Likewise a propaganda based answer would have gotten him nowhere in any thinking society. I do not know what sort of punishment could or would result for him from any fallout from a radio interview the in western media.

That sheepish 'no' however, made me think not of some machiavellian monster, but of a scared little boy. I really do wonder, just what is he afraid of?